EC directs returning officers to expedite vote counting

EC directs returning officers to expedite vote counting

As the speed of counting of vote goes slow, the
Election Commission (EC) instructed returning officers of all 281 local units
to expedite vote counting by involving maximum human resources available in the
districts and representatives of political parties.

“We have asked them [returning officers] to speed up
vote counting after our oral instructions could not make substantive progress
in accelerate vote counting,” said Commissioner Narendra Dahal.

A Board meeting of the election body has instructed
the chief returning officers and returning officers of the local units to adopt
all possible measures to complete voting in time. “Now onwards, they can
mobilize available civil servants in the districts and parties also should name
their representatives when vote count will begin in multiple places,” said
Dahal.

Large size ballot papers, repeated disputes among
the parties over the valid votes and multiple symbols have slowed the vote
counting. Protests have erupted in some places over delay in vote count. Poll
observers say it could take months to complete vote counting if the returning
officers do not take timely measures for concluding the counting in time.

Considering the possible delay in vote counting
election experts have suggested to begin vote counting on the spot once the
voting is over. The suggestions, however, were not implemented.

Going against the suggestions the EC has formulated
the election guidelines inline to begin vote counting only after collecting
ballot boxes from polling centers. The EC was struggling to collect ballot
boxes until Tuesday morning. Helicopters
and poll workers were mobilized in mountainous districts while four-wheelers
were used to collect ballot boxes.